The No.2 seeded Taft varsity softball team had hopes and dreams of returning to the title game all season long. They accomplished that goal Tuesday afternoon when they shut out the No.3 seeded Chowchilla Redskins 5-0 in the semi final round of the CIF-CS Division IV playoffs.

With the victory, Taft takes on Liberty Madera Ranchos for the Division IV championship Thursday.

Taft's offense made their first move in the bottom of the second. With two runners on and two outs, Kelsey Wilmer hit a grounder to the Chowchilla second baseman. The second baseman hesitated long enought for Wilmer to be safe to load the bases. Halle Neher followed with a bloop two run single.

While Taft was able to break through, Arizona Pilgrim shut down the Chowchilla offense. Out of the first 17 batters she saw, only one reached base on an infield error in the third inning. The Lady Redskins would get only two more runners on base on a hit in the sixth and seventh innings.

Haylee Tracy helped the Lady Wildcats extend their lead with a leadoff home run in the last half of the fifth inning. Taft went on to score two more runs to seal the victory.

To read the full story, pick up Friday's Driller. To read who the Lady Wildcats will play in the championship game, keep checking in to www.taftmidwaydriller.com